A blog of all things fantastic at the Orem Public Library.

Main Menu

Black History Month 2019

Come celebrate Black History Month with these three programs at the library!

Monday, February 11
7:00 PM / Fireplace
The Bonner Family

The eight Bonner siblings and their parents are talented vocalists and musical artists who unite their family through their shared love of gospel music and their African-American heritage. Their music is featured in the film Jane and Emma, on Mormon Channel, and in their recently released album. Join them for an interactive history lesson on African-American music illustrated by songs, folklore, and oral traditions dating from ancient West African times to today. The presentation will feature songs and sounds from the slavery era, as well as spirituals, blues, jazz, and interactive songs and stories with the audience.

Loki Mulholland, Emmy-winning filmmaker of An Ordinary Hero and The Uncomfortable Truth, explores racism in his latest film through the lives of four white families in Utah who adopt African-American children and overcome their own inherent biases to become advocates. Black, White & Us reveals the challenges faced by parents, children, and society, while exposing the darker side of those adoption agencies who profit from our country’s racial divide. A Q&A with Loki will follow the film screening.

Join us in celebrating Black History Month with Melissa Leilani Larson, writer of Jane and Emma, a film that tells the story of an imagined night with Jane Manning, a free black woman and convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Emma Smith, wife and widow of Joseph Smith. Melissa will introduce the film and the history behind it, and give a Q&A following the film screening.